Skip to content
For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt. Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending .md to the page URL.
Primary navigation
Theme

Create image

images.generate(**kwargs) -> ImagesResponse
POST
/images/generations

Creates an image given a prompt using a GPT Image model. Learn more.

Parameters
prompt: str

A text description of the desired image(s). The maximum length is 32000 characters.

background: Optional[Literal["transparent", "opaque", "auto"]]

Allows to set transparency for the background of the generated image(s). Must be one of transparent, opaque, or auto (default value). When auto is used, the model will automatically determine the best background for the image.

gpt-image-2.5-sunburst and gpt-image-2.5-flare, including their 2026-09-08 snapshots, support opaque and transparent backgrounds. Transparent backgrounds are available for supported GPT Image models. For gpt-image-2 and gpt-image-2-2026-04-21, this support is in preview. When using transparent, set the output format to png or webp.

complexity: Optional[Literal["low", "medium", "high"]]

Computation spent planning the image, independently of rendering quality. Uses the image model’s configured default when omitted. For SVG output, controls the reference image, independently of the SVG author’s reasoning.

frame_count: Optional[int]

Number of frames for GIF output. Accepts integers from 2 through 16. Defaults to 9 when omitted. Only supported with output_format=gif. The requested size must satisfy the selected model’s GIF size limits. GIF output does not support streaming, partial images, masks, or custom output compression. Requires access to the GIF preview for the selected model.

minimum2
maximum16
frame_duration_ms: Optional[int]

Requested delay per GIF frame, in milliseconds. Defaults to 200 when omitted. GIF output rounds to the nearest 10 ms and caps the encoded delay at 655,350 ms per frame. Only supported with output_format=gif.

minimum20
model: Optional[Union[str, ImageModel, null]]

The GPT image model to use for image generation. Specify a model explicitly. Supported models include gpt-image-1-mini, gpt-image-1.5, gpt-image-2, gpt-image-2-2026-04-21, gpt-image-2.5-sunburst, gpt-image-2.5-sunburst-2026-09-08, gpt-image-2.5-flare, gpt-image-2.5-flare-2026-09-08, gpt-image-2.6-sunburst, gpt-image-2.6-flare, and chatgpt-image-latest.

gpt-image-1 was shut down on October 23, 2026. Use gpt-image-2.5-sunburst or gpt-image-2.5-flare instead.

Deprecated values:

  • “gpt-image-1”: GPT Image 1 was shut down on October 23, 2026. Use gpt-image-2.5-sunburst or gpt-image-2.5-flare instead.
  • “dall-e-2”, “dall-e-3”: This model was retired on May 12, 2026. Use a GPT image model instead.
moderation: Optional[Literal["low", "auto"]]

Control the content-moderation level for images generated by the GPT image models. Must be either low for less restrictive filtering or auto (default value).

n: Optional[int]

The number of images to generate. Must be between 1 and 10.

minimum1
maximum10
output_compression: Optional[int]

The compression level (0-100%) for the generated images. This parameter is only supported for the GPT image models with the webp or jpeg output formats, and defaults to 100.

output_format: Optional[Literal["png", "webp", "jpeg", 2 more]]

The format in which the generated images are returned. This parameter is only supported for the GPT image models.

partial_images: Optional[int]

The number of partial images to generate. This parameter is used for streaming responses that return partial images. Value must be between 0 and 3. When set to 0, the response will be a single image sent in one streaming event.

Note that the final image may be sent before the full number of partial images are generated if the full image is generated more quickly.

minimum0
maximum3
quality: Optional[Literal["low", "medium", "high", 5 more]]

The quality of the image that will be generated.

  • auto (default value) will automatically select the best quality for the given model.
  • high, medium and low are supported for the GPT image models.
  • gpt-image-2.5-sunburst and gpt-image-2.5-flare, including their 2026-09-08 snapshots, also support xhigh and max.
response_format: Optional[Literal["url", "b64_json"]]

Deprecated.

Legacy response format parameter for retired image models. Unsupported for GPT image models, which always return base64-encoded images.

safety_identifier: Optional[str]

A stable identifier for an end user in your organization, used for safety monitoring and abuse detection. Hash a username or email address to avoid sending identifying information. A non-empty value takes precedence over the deprecated user parameter. If omitted, null, or empty, the API uses user when available. Learn more.

maxLength128
size: Optional[Union[str, Literal["auto", "1024x1024", "1536x1024", 5 more], null]]

The size of the generated images. For gpt-image-2, gpt-image-2-2026-04-21, gpt-image-2.5-sunburst, gpt-image-2.5-sunburst-2026-09-08, gpt-image-2.5-flare, and gpt-image-2.5-flare-2026-09-08, arbitrary resolutions are supported as WIDTHxHEIGHT strings, for example 1536x864. Width and height must both be divisible by 16 and the requested aspect ratio must be between 1:3 and 3:1. Resolutions above 2560x1440 are experimental, and the maximum supported resolution is 3840x2160. The requested size must also satisfy the model’s current pixel and edge limits. The standard sizes 1024x1024, 1536x1024, and 1024x1536 are supported by the GPT image models; auto is supported for models that allow automatic sizing.

Deprecated values:

  • “256x256”, “512x512”, “1792x1024”, “1024x1792”: This legacy size suggestion is retained for SDK compatibility. Check the selected GPT image model’s supported sizes.
stream: Optional[Literal[false]]

Generate the image in streaming mode. Defaults to false. See the Image generation guide for more information. This parameter is only supported for the GPT image models.

style: Optional[Literal["vivid", "natural"]]

Deprecated.

Legacy style parameter for retired image models. Unsupported for GPT image models; describe the desired style in the prompt instead.

svg: Optional[Svg]

Selects the model and reasoning effort used to author SVG output. Requires output_format=svg and access to SVG model selection. When model selection is enabled, supply svg.model. When model selection is disabled, omit this object. The top-level model selects the image model that creates the reference image. SVG generation requires n=1 and does not support streaming, partial images, prompt_rewriter, or output_compression.

user: Optional[str]

Deprecated.

Deprecated: use safety_identifier instead. This parameter remains accepted for backward compatibility and is used when safety_identifier is omitted, null, or empty. Learn more.

Returns
class ImagesResponse: …

The response from the image generation endpoint.

created: int

The Unix timestamp (in seconds) of when the image was created.

formatunixtime
background: Optional[Literal["transparent", "opaque"]]

The background parameter used for the image generation. Either transparent or opaque.

data: Optional[List[Image]]

The list of generated images.

output_format: Optional[Literal["png", "webp", "jpeg", 2 more]]

The output format of the generated or edited image.

quality: Optional[Literal["low", "medium", "high", 2 more]]

The quality of the image generated. One of low, medium, high, xhigh, or max.

safety_identifier: Optional[str]

The effective safety identifier used for safety monitoring and abuse detection. This is the non-empty safety_identifier from the request, or the deprecated user value when safety_identifier is omitted, null, or empty.

size: Optional[Union[str, Literal["1024x1024", "1024x1536", "1536x1024"], null]]

The image dimensions as a WIDTHxHEIGHT string, for example 1536x864.

svg_usage: Optional[SvgUsage]

Token usage for SVG authoring, separate from image rendering usage.

usage: Optional[Usage]

Token usage information for image generation with GPT Image models.

Create image

import base64
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI()

img = client.images.generate(
    model="gpt-image-2.5-flare",
    prompt="A cute baby sea otter",
    n=1,
    size="1024x1024"
)

image_bytes = base64.b64decode(img.data[0].b64_json)
with open("output.png", "wb") as f:
    f.write(image_bytes)
Response example
{
  "created": 1713833628,
  "data": [
    {
      "b64_json": "..."
    }
  ],
  "usage": {
    "total_tokens": 100,
    "input_tokens": 50,
    "output_tokens": 50,
    "input_tokens_details": {
      "text_tokens": 10,
      "image_tokens": 40
    }
  }
}
Returns Examples
200 — Example
{
  "created": 0,
  "background": "transparent",
  "data": [
    {
      "b64_json": "b64_json",
      "revised_prompt": "revised_prompt",
      "url": "https://example.com"
    }
  ],
  "output_format": "png",
  "quality": "low",
  "safety_identifier": "safety_identifier",
  "size": "1024x1024",
  "svg_usage": {
    "input_tokens": 0,
    "model": "model",
    "output_tokens": 0,
    "reasoning_tokens": 0,
    "total_tokens": 0
  },
  "usage": {
    "input_tokens": 0,
    "input_tokens_details": {
      "image_tokens": 0,
      "text_tokens": 0
    },
    "output_tokens": 0,
    "total_tokens": 0,
    "output_tokens_details": {
      "image_tokens": 0,
      "text_tokens": 0
    }
  }
}